Type 1 Diabetes and Coronavirus | How COVID-19 Affects Diabetes

Image Credit: Peter Rossetti/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Image Credit: Peter Rossetti/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

For our Global Diabetes Community:

The novel coronavirus named COVID-19 is a growing issue and concern across the globe today. We at Marjorie’s Fund want to inform our global diabetes community how to better understand the ways this can impact one’s diabetes.

Marjorie’s Fund is a type 1 diabetes nonprofit with a global initiative to improve diabetes education, health care access and economic empowerment. Because this virus is a global pandemic, we are continually concerned for our beneficiaries in resource poor areas that are impacted greatly by the ripple effects of COVID. We’re adapting as quickly as we can and are working to support our global diabetes community around the world.

Jason C. Baker, MD, Assistant Professor of medicine and attending endocrinologist at Cornell Medical College in New York and the co-founder of Marjorie’s Fund, shares his insight below.

In general, it seems that we as part of the diabetes community are at slightly higher risk for getting COVID-19, and if we do get it, it is slightly more complicated because we have to manage our blood glucose, which tends to fluctuate any time we have stress, like an infection.”

As people with type 1 diabetes, we are indeed at a slightly higher risk of getting  COVID-19, and as is the case with any infection diabetes gets harder to manage when you are sick. 

However, NO NEED TO PANIC! If you practice social distancing and other precautions as recommended by the CDC your chances of staying healthy are greatly increased, and if you do get sick treat it like any other illness: watch your sugars even more closely, and seek medical advice from your healthcare provider. Also, don't forget to keep your diabetes supplies (glucose testing kits, insulin pumps, glucose sensors, and medications) clean, we tend to touch them all the time and they can be a source of infection if we are not careful. Also, make sure to have at least 2 months of diabetes medications and supplies ready in case of any shortage. We will get through this, and will learn how to prepare better for future challenges! 

What is COVID-19?:

First, about Cornoavirus (Covid-19) The World Health Organization (WHO) answers many difficult question about this disease found here, although know on January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, 2020, the WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

 

What are symptoms of Coronavirus?

Symptoms of COVID-19 commonly include fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms and fully recover without complications. Less commonly, COVID-19 may lead to pneumonia, hospitalization or death. People who are at most risk for severe illness are older adults or those who have chronic health conditions, such as:

  • Lung disease

  • Heart disease

  • Diabetes

  • Cancer

  • A weakened immune system



10 Takeaways about Diabetes and COVID-19

  1. For people with diabetes who present with symptoms of the novel coronavirus, the same “sick day” rules apply as when a person with diabetes has influenza.

  2. COVID-19 seems to be a mild illness in most people, even if you become infected with it you will most likely be fine if the below preparations are taken.

  3. To avoid infection for now take the same precautions as given to the general population: wash hands, avoid contact with sick people, avoid crowded places, if possible work from home and avoid non-essential travel.

  4. Keep at least 2 months of diabetes supplies on hand (it is good to have this in case of any emergency). If you don’t have this, ask your healthcare provider to change your prescription so you can have these essential back up supplies.

  5. Try to order your prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies that can deliver supplies to your home.

  6. Make sure you have glucagon at home in case of severe hypoglycemia and have urine ketone strips at home in case of severe hyperglycemia.

  7. If you are sick, contact your healthcare provider and avoid contact with other people. Testing for COVID-19 remains very limited, and unless you are very ill it is advised you stay at home and self-isolate until the symptoms are better. If you become severely ill, contact your provider and proceed to the ER for care.

  8. As always, if you are ill watch the sugars even more closely as they will fluctuate more than expected (as they will when we are sick from any cause) and carbohydrates will have a much greater impact on your sugar levels than usual.

  9. Lower your carbohydrate intake, stay well-hydrated, and monitor blood glucose more than usual.

  10. Stay calm don’t panic! This will pass! Use this as a learning opportunity to better plan for other emergencies should they arise.

In an interview on Healio.com, Jason Baker, MD shared more insights to what he’s is advising patience. “As of now there isn’t anything different to do with COVID-19 and your diabetes. We recommend that people just stay home and ride it out, that can be really scary for a person with diabetes, who may need more support. Be in close contact with their provider if they don’t feel well, let their healthcare provider know if they are having issues with blood glucose, and have a support network incase you are feeling ill, please tell someone to check on you.” [link out]



How can I protect myself and others?

  • The White House along with the CDC recently released a guideline to help slow the spread of cases. This is strong standard to ideally reduce the exposure.

  • Stay home. You should only leave your home for essential tasks, such as work (if you cannot work from home), getting groceries and supplies or essential medical care. Try to use delivery services when possible.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds every time, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  • Do not touch your face unless you recently washed your hands.

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. Do not use your hands.

  • Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.

  • If you are an older adult or have any of the chronic health conditions listed above, avoid all unnecessary gatherings and events.

Image credit: Johannes Kalliauer/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Image credit: Johannes Kalliauer/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Social Distancing is a means to help protect yourself and other by reducing physical interactions, groups, and gather. The less people are exposing themselves to unsuspecting infected people, the more our healthcare systems and provider can get help to people that need it most quickly.

We’re adapting as quickly as possible to support our global diabetes community around the world. There are confirmed cases in both Rwanda and Uganda, where we focus our programs on healthcare access, diabetes education and economic empowerment. With lockdowns limiting access to critical care and supplies, we are deeply concerned about the ripple effects on all people living with type 1 diabetes in these countries. A little goes a long way for our communities and we need your support to ensure people are not dying from two fatal diagnoses. Please help support our community today.

Jason Baker